Label dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A label dispensing machine for separating pressure sensitive adhesive coated labels from a continuous backing tape and delivering the labels to a removal station upon demand. The labels are separated from the continuous backing tape by means which pulls the backing tape away from the labels as the labels are fed to a support roller contiguous to the removal station. The backing tape and its attached labels are fed through the dispensing machine by a driving means which engages the backing tape. The driving means is actuated by an electric eye means which is associated with the label removal station. The electronic circuit between the electric eye means and the drive motor is designed so as not to be adversely affected by changes in voltage.

United States Patent Francis M. Croney Euless, Tex. 750,340

Aug. 5, 1968 Mar. 9, 1971 Devmar, Inc. Arlington, Tex.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee LABEL DISPENSING DEVICE 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl.'.

Int. Cl. Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,754,994 7/1956 Cole 3,033,417 5/1962 VanMeer 3,107,814 10/19 33 Auger et al. .1:

3,169,895 2/1965 Sohn 221/73X 3,222,242 12/1 965 lngalls et al.. 22l/73X 3,343,715 9/1967 Edwards 221/13 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,155,390 10/1965 Germany 221/73 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney-Parker & Carter ABSTRACT: A label dispensing machine for separating pres sure sensitive adhesive coated labels from a continuous backing tape and delivering the labels to a removal station upon demand. The labels are separated from the continuous backing tape by means which pulls the backing tape away from the labels as the labels are fed to a support roller contiguous to the removal station. The [backing tape and its attached labels are fed through the dispensing machine by a driving means which engages the backing tape. The driving means is actuated by an electric eye means which is associated with the label removal station. The electronic circuit between the electric eye means and the drive motor is designed so as not to be adversely affected by changes in voltage.

LABEL DISPENSING DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with a label dispensing machine and more particularly with a machine that automatically separates labels from a continuous backing tape and delivers these labels upon demand to a label removal station.

An object of this invention is a dispensing machine for automatically separating labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive from a continuous backing tape and delivering the separated labels on demand to a removal station.

Another object is a label dispensing machine arranged so that removal of a label from the removal station automatically actuates the machine to supply another label to the removal station.

Another object is a label dispensing machine in which a label is held separated from its backing tape until it is ready to be used.

Another object is a label dispensing machine having an au tomatic feed mechanism which is relatively unaffected by variations in electrical voltage.

Other objects will be found in the following specification, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a label dispensing machine embodying the novel features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1; and

, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of the label dispensing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 1n the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown including a housing 21 having a base 23 with upstanding sidewalls 25 and 27 mounted thereon. Aligned notches 29 and 31 are formed respectively in the sloping top edges 33 and 35 of the sidewalls 25 and 27. The notches act as bearings to receive a roll support axle 37. An additional roll support axle 38 is located adjacent the low ends of the sidewalls. Discs 39 and 41 are movable along the length of the axle 37 to position a roll 42 of backing tape 43 and labels 44. A cylindrical tape guide 45 extends between the sidewalls 25 and 27 adjacent the top thereof. Tape guide discs 47 and 49 are spaced along the length of said guide. A tape guide rod 51 extends between the sidewalls 25 and 27 adjacent to the guide 45 but is spaced closer to the base 23 than is the guide 45. Notches (not shown) are'formed respectively in the discs 47 and 49 and receive the rod 51 to prevent rotation of the discs 47 and 49 relative to the guide 45. The diameter of the guide rod 51 is relatively small in comparison to the diameter of the tape guide45.

A label 44 and backing tape 43 separating member 57 extends between the sidewalls 25 and 27. This member is flat and rectangular and has a rounded longitudinally extending edge 59. The edge 59 is spaced from the tape guide rod 51 and is located farther from the base 23 than the lower surface of said tape guide rod. The circumference of said rounded edge 'rod 51 and the rounded edge 59 of the label and tape separating member 57 is generally less than the length of a label in a direction along the path of movement of the tape 43. A label support member 61 extends between the sidewalls 25 and 27 and is positioned adjacent the label separating member 57. This support member is fastened in slots 65 in the sidewalls 25 and 27 to enable it to be moved towards and away from the base 23. The label support member has a surface 67 consisting of lands formed as part of a screw thread. This surface presents minimum contact with a label passing thereover. The

spacing between the threaded surface 67 and the label separating member 59 is less than the length of a label in the direction of movement df the tape so that the label will be supported as it is separated from the backing tape 43.

A backing tape drive roller 69 extends between the sidewalls 25 and 27 and is positioned between the label support means 61 and the base 23. A plurality of circumferential grooves 71 are formed in the tape drive roller and are spaced along the length thereof. O-rings 73 are fitted in the grooves 71 and are positioned to engagethe backing tape. A drive shaft 75 extending from an electric motor 77 is received in the drive roller 69 and is secured thereto in a suitable manner, such as by screws or the like. A pressure roller 79 extends between the sidewalls 25 and 27 adjacent to the drive roller 69 and mounted in slots 83 formed in the sidewalls to permit its adjustable positioning relative to the drive roller for varying the amount of pressure exerted on the tape. This is accom plished by joumaling the roller in bearings 85 which can be moved along the length of the slots and held in selected positions by adjustment screws 87.

The label removal station 89 includes upper and lower guide arms 91 and 93 that are cantileverly attached to the housing 21 by spacers 95 and 97 which connect to a bracket 99 secured to the sidewall 27. The spacers are adjustable to center the guide arms in alignment with the center of a label 44. The guide arms 91 and 93 are spacedapart vertically to provide a slot 101 for passage of the label. The entrance to the slot 101 is positioned adjacent the label support member 61.

An electric eye assembly 105 is mounted on the housing 21 near the free ends of the guide arms 91, 93 and on one side thereof. This assembly includes a housing 107 containing a photoelectric cell 109 and a housing 111 containing an incandescent lamp 113. Housing 107 is movably afiixed in a slot 115 formed in an upstanding support arm 117 and housing 111 is affixed in position to an armll9 which is cantileverly connected to the upstanding sidewall 27 of the housing 21. The arm 119 is equipped with a longitudinally extending slot 121 which permits adjustment of its connection to the sidewall of the housing for moving the housings 107 and 111 relative to the guide arms 91 and 93. Electric wires 123 and 125 run respectively from the photoelectric cell 109 and the incan descent lamp 113 to the electronic circuit box 127.

The electrical circuits for this dispensing machine are shown schematically in FIG. 4. The circuits are supplied with ll0-volt alternating current from plug prongs 129. A switch 131 is provided in the circuit for energizing and deenergizing the dispensing machine. A fuse 133 is provided to prevent overloading of the circuits. A neon light 135 is connected in parallel with the fuse so that it will operate when the fuse blows to indicatethat the fuse is blown. A second neon light 137 lights when the switch 131 is closed. The incandescent lamp 113 of the electric eye assembly 105 is connected to one side of a transformer 139 connected to the llO-volt supply 129.

The electric drive motor 77 is connected to one side of the 1 lO-volt circuit but isolated from the other side by a semiconductor 141 having a built-in triggering diode. The triggering diode of the semiconductor is actuated. when the photoelectric cell receives light from the incandescent bulb. A suitable semiconductor for this purpose is sold under the trade name QUADRAC by Electronic Control Corporation, P.O. Box J, Euless, Texas. A third neon light 143 is provided to indicate when there is electrical feedback through the motor 77.

The use, operation and function of this invention are as follows:

The embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is particularly adaptable for automatically dispensing labels to a discharge or removal station in which the removal of a label automatically actuates the dispenser to supply another label to the removal station. However, the principles of this invention may also be utilized in a dispensing machine in which the operation of the motor 77 is controlled by a hand or foot operated switch. Also, these principles may be applied to a dispensing machine in which the tape drive roller is rotated by a lever and to a machine in which the labels and tape are moved through the machine by manually pulling on the backing tape.

The label dispensing mechanism of this invention is particularly suited for the separation of labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and which are supplied attached to a continuous backing tape in rolled form. The labels are spaced apart from one another when attached to the backing tape. The roll 42 of backing tape 43 and labels 44 is mounted on the roll support axle 37. Discs 39 and 41 may be moved into engagement with the sides of the roll to hold the roll in position.

The roll 42 of backing tape 43 and labels 44 is threaded through the dispenser by first removing sufficient labels from the leading edge of the backing tape to expose or 6 inches of backing tape. The backing tape is then threaded over the cylindrical tape guide 45 and under the tape guide rod 51. The discs 47 and 49 mounted on the cylindrical tape guide are moved into position adjacent the edges of the backing tape to hold it in alignment. The backing tape is then threaded over the label and backing tape separating member 57 and is threaded between the drive roller 69 and the pressure roller 79.

When the switch 131 is placed in the on position, and if there is no label in the label removal station 89 between the incandescent bulb 113 and the photoelectric cell 109, the incandescent lamp will shine light on the photoelectric cell. The current produced in the circuit due to the actuation of the photoelectric cell will trigger the semiconductor 141 to close the circuit, thereby permitting current from the l lO-volt line 129 to flow to the electric motor 77. Rotation of the motor will pull the backing tape through the dispenser until a label is moved through the guide arms 91 and 93 to a position which prevents the light from the incandescent bulb from shining on the photoelectric cell. When the photoelectric cell is deenergized, the semiconductor 141 will interrupt the flow of current to the motor 77.

Separation of the labels from the backing tape takes place as the forward portion of each label passes over the rounded edge 59 of the label and backing tape separating member 57. The trailing portion of the label will usually be beneath and engaged by the tape guide rod 51 although this is not necessary for separation of the labels from the backing tape and will not occur with very small labels. The backing tape and labels change direction by approximately 90 as they pass around the tape guide rod 51. The rigidity of the label tends to maintain the label in a straight path towards the label support member 61 while the backing tape is being pulled downwardly and away from the label by the combination of the drive roller and pressure roller acting against the tape. The backing tape is changed approximately 90 in its direction of travel as it passes over the label separating member 57. After a label is separated from the backing tape, it continues under its own momentum, and perhaps, with the assistance of a push from the following label, to move across the label support member and on to the label guide arm 93 where it blocks the light from the incandescent light 113 from falling on the photoelectric cell 109. A label positioned in the label removal station 89 has one end portion blocking the electric eye assembly and the opposite end portion resting on the label support member 61. Due to the threaded surface of the label support member, very little of this surface is in contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive affixed to the label. Consequently, it is not likely that the label will adhere to this support member. In a similar manner, the area of the guide arm 93 in contact with this adhesive is also very small, again minimizing the problem of the labels adhering to the guide arm.

I claim:

1. In a label dispensing machine for separating labels from a continuous backing tape and sequentially presenting labels at a label removal station, the improvement comprisin' a label removal station having a label support gul e arm extending in the direction of movement of said labels and positioned to engage and support a separated label along a generally straight line area of contact;

a label and backing tape separating member;

a label support means positioned between said separating member and said label removal station; and

said label support means extending generally at right angles to the direction of movement of said labels and positioned to engage and support one end of a separated label when the label is supported by the guide arm of said removal station with said label support means having a plurality of spaced contact areas extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of the labels.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the spacing between said label and backing tape separating member and said label support means is less than the length of a label along the direction of movement of the backing tape.

3. The structure of claim I further characterized in that said label support means is adjustable in a direction extending generally at right angles to the path of movement of the backing tape as it approaches said tape and label separating member.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by a drive means adapted to engage the backing tape after it passes said label and backing tape separating member with said drive means adapted to pull said backing tape and label across said label and backing tape separator, means to selectively actuate and deactuate said drive means including means to start said drive means upon removal of a label from said label removal station and to stop said drive means upon delivery of another label to said label removal station.

5. The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that said means to start said drive means upon removal of a label from said label removal station and to stop said drive means upon delivery of another label to said label removal station includes a photoelectric cell and an incandescent lamp with such photoelectric cell controlling current to an electric motor connected to said drive means with said photoelectric cell arranged to activate said electric motor upon receipt of light from said incandescent lamp.

6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that said drive means includes a source of alternating current, a circuit connected to said source of alternating current, an electric motor located in said circuit, and a semiconductor controlling the flow of alternating current to said motor with said semiconductor being activated by current produced by said photoelectric cell.

7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that said semiconductor includes a built in triggering diode with said triggering diode activating the semiconductor when current is produced by the photoelectric cell. 

1. In a label dispensing machine for separating labels from a continuous backing tape and sequentially presenting labels at a label removal station, the improvement comprising: a label removal station having a label support guide arm extending in the direction of movement of said labels and positioned to engage and support a separated label along a generally straight line area of contact; a label and backing tape separating member; a label support means positioned between said separating member and said label removal station; and said label support means extending generally at right angles to the direction of movement of said labels and positioned to engage and support one end of a separated label when the label is supported by the guide arm of said removal station with said label support means having a plurality of spaced contact areas extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of the labels.
 2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the spacing between said label and backing tape separating member and said label support means is less than the length of a label along the direction of movement of the backing tape.
 3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said label support means is adjustable in a direction extending generally at right angles to the path of movement of the backing tape as it approaches said tape and label separating member.
 4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by a drive means adapted to engage the backing tape after it passes said label and backing tape separating member with said drive means adapted to pull said backing tape and label across said label and backing tape separator, means to selectively actuate and deactuate said drive means including means to start said drive means upon removal of a label from said label removal station and to stop said drive means upon delivery of another label to said label removal station.
 5. The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that said means to start said drive means upon removal of a label from said label removal station and to stop said drive means upon delivery of another label to said label removal station includes a photoelectric cell and an incandescent lamp with such photoelectric cell controlling current to an electric motor connected to said drive means with said photoelectric cell arranged to activate said electric motor upon receipt of light from said incandescent lamp.
 6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that said drive means includes a source of alternating Current, a circuit connected to said source of alternating current, an electric motor located in said circuit, and a semiconductor controlling the flow of alternating current to said motor with said semiconductor being activated by current produced by said photoelectric cell.
 7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that said semiconductor includes a built in triggering diode with said triggering diode activating the semiconductor when current is produced by the photoelectric cell. 